We are all on the lookout for school uniform at the right prices. With the high street stores and supermarkets competing for our hard earned cash, where is the best place to buy those 'Back To School' items? This guide will help you find the hardest wearing school uniform for the lowest prices.
Think you could qualify for a School Uniform Grant? Scroll down to see if you are eligible and how to apply.
Best School Uniform Deals 2020
If you're on a budget you need to check out these deals. We'll post all the best current offers on school uniform and school shoes here as they pop up.
- Aldi Back To School Event* online 9th August, in stores 13th August 2020, including a £4.50 Uniform Bundle
- My 1st Years: 20% Off Back To School Flash Sale*Get 20% off backpacks and lunch bags on 16/08/20 for one day only with the code SCHOOL20.
- Debenhams: Up to 50% off selected school uniform*
- Matalan: £5 & Under School Uniform*
- School Uniform Clearance @ John Lewis & Partners*limited stocks
- School Uniform @ Studio* from just £1.60, limited stocks
- COMING SOON: 25% off Tu Clothing @ Sainbury's & Argos* expected to start in August 2020, though this date has not been confirmed and is subject to change. We'll let you know when we have a fixed date.
Lidl Whole Uniform For £4.50
Lidl have just revealed this year's Back To School Event, and it includes the return of the Whole Uniform For £4.50 offer! From Thursday 6th August you'll be able to buy uniform separates from a ridiculous £1, plus sports kit, stationery essentials*, and even leather school shoes for £6.99 a pair!
The £4.50 school uniform bundle includes a school sweatshirt (£1), a 2 pack of polo shirts (£1.75) and a choice of either trousers, shorts or skirt for £1.75. Offers are in store only, and while stocks last.
Aldi School Uniform Specialbuys 2020
Waiting for news of the Aldi Back To School Event? Aldi's Back To School Specialbuys*is online now and in stores on Thursday 13th August 2020. We can also reveal that the £4.50 School Uniform Bundle will be returning. In the bundle you'll get two polo shirts, one round neck jumper and either trousers or a skirt, all for less just £4.50. The offer is the same price that Aldi sold its bundle for last year.
Here's a sneak peek at what's coming in Aldi's Back To School Event 2020:
For the past few years Aldi have sold a School Uniform Bundle for under £5*and it will be returning for 2020 once more, though the price has yet to be confirmed. This year's Aldi Back To School Event is almost a month later than it usually starts, and in 2019 it was 11th July, which we believe is due to manufacturing and distribution delays following the Coronavirus pandemic.
Asda George School Uniform
Asda George are one of the more popular places to buy school uniform* from. With their 100 Day Satisfaction Guarantee*and prices from just £2, it's a no-brainer. Asda George have one of the largest ranges on the high street, with sizes to cater for everyone and all ages, from nursery up to and including college and sixth form*.
The range has just been launched online, and we'll let you know right here as soon as any offers appear.
Sainsbury's Tu Clothing School Uniform
Tu Clothing at Sainsbury's sell a wide range of school clothes*, and as well as available in store, you'll find it online too at both Tu Clothing and Argos. They are at a slightly higher price point than the other supermarkets, but often hold 25% off all clothing events which make them as cheap, if not cheaper for some 'Back to School' items.
We're expecting a 25% off event to be on the way soon, probably mid-August in most of the UK, though it's usually slightly earlier in Scotland due to the earlier school summer holidays. We'll confirm the date soon.
Morrisons Nutmeg School Uniform
It's handy picking up school uniform* when you are doing your weekly shop (in store or online), in fact it's a great way to spread the cost. At Morrisons, you can pick up Nutmeg School Clothes from £2 and don't even worry about the quality, as you're covered with the 200 Day No Quibble Quality Guarantee.
This means that if you are unhappy with your purchase of Nutmeg School Clothing, you have up to 200 days to return it to a Morrisons store and receive a replacement or refund.
Next Girls School Uniform
Next aren't known to be the cheapest for school uniform, but they are renowned for their trendy styles and good quality. They cater for new starters, all the way through to teens in their final year. The Girls School Uniform* starts from just £3.
We know Next is popular with you guys when it comes to clothes for the kids. However, judging by your votes, and personal experiences of the PlayPennies team, it's school uniform falls down on value for money, when compared to the supermarkets.
Next Boys School Uniform
One of the main appeals of Boys School Uniform from Next*is that they cater for all sizes, including Slim Fit*.
H&M Kids School Uniform
This year you can buy school uniform at H&M, and as you'd expect it's priced very reasonably, though not quite on a level with supermarket multipacks. Prices are from £3.99 for items like polo shirts, trousers and cardigans from £7.99, school dresses from £9.99, plus a good selection of sports kit, shoes and lots more. Most of their school uniform items are online only, so you need to hit their website instead of heading to a store.
Marks and Spencer (M&S) School Uniform
Marks and Spencer are surprisingly one of the more affordable places on the high street to get school uniform* from. Not only does their school clothes* range start from just £4, but they run 20% off events too.
Matalan School Uniform
The Matalan School Shop* is the place to be for school uniform on a budget. Items start from £3, and you can purchase their school clothing range online, as well as in store.
Debenhams School Uniform
Debenhams are one of the more expensive school uniforms* on the high street, but they frequently do sales events which mean you can enjoy savings of up to 20% (sometimes even more if they have a 'Blue Cross Event' on). Currently they have an offer with up to 30% off on selected school uniform*.
Very School Uniform
You may not have thought about Very for school uniform*, but they have a large selection to choose from. If you have an account with them, you could even "try before you buy". If you like to buy multiples of school clothes, then Very do multipacks on most of their uniform items.
Your School Uniform
If your School insists on Uniform with their emblem, badge or logo on, then Your School Uniform is the place to look. Simply search your Child's School and see what specialist School Clothing they sell.
Check out the Your School Uniform £1 Sale for Shirts, Sweatshirts, Trousers and more!
Compare Supermarket School Uniform
In the Summer of 2017, PlayPennies ran a poll to see just where you parents like to spend your money, when it comes to school clothing. The results pretty much correlated with the personal opinions of the PlayPennies team as well.
Marks and Spencer* came out tops when we ran the poll, and we weren't surprised. Their school clothes are not only affordable, but wash well and are hard wearing.
Asda George School Uniform* is a firm favourite with you guys in second place, and with prices from just £2 and that 100 Day Satisfaction we can see why.
School Uniform from TU Clothing*, ranked third in our Best School Uniform poll. The quality is great, but their prices tend to be a little more than those of their school uniform selling competitors.
Morrisons' Nutmeg* didn't fare so well in our School Uniform Poll, but the fact it's so cheap and they offer that 200 Day No Quibble Quality Guarantee means it's a win-win situation buying from them.
Aldi* didn't feature in our poll, but we are sure if they had done, they would have come somewhere near the top. After all, you'll struggle to find cheaper than £4.50 for the full uniform.
Very* wasn't featured in the poll, but was highly rated by a couple of PlayPennies team members, for good quality, although more expensive than other places.
Debenhams* was almost on par with Morrisons near the bottom of the results, and whilst we know their quality isn't bad, it's value for money that lets it down. One of the more pricey places to pick up school clothes.
Q&A
Where can I buy School Uniform on Sale?
Many retailers run discount events through the Summer, so it's easy to pick up discounted school uniform. Marks and Spencer* do 20% off School Clothing, Debenhams* have frequent Sales, as do Very*. It's also worth noting that TU Clothing* at Sainsbury's do 25% off ALL Clothing including schoolwear now and then too.
Grocery Aid: £150 School Uniform Grant
Do you work in the grocery industry? You could be eligible for a School Essentials Grant of £150 per school aged child (maximum of 3 per household) to help with school uniform costs. This scheme is aimed at low-income grocery workers who are in receipt of Child Tax Credit, and you would need to provide proof of income when you apply.
You can apply for a grant if:
- You are currently employed in grocery and have been for at least 12 months or more
- You can evidence receipt of Child Benefit which is paid into your bank account (one grant per child)
- Household net income meets GroceryAid’s criteria for financial hardship
- Household savings are below £1000
- Anyone receiving a grant from GroceryAid since 1st April 2020 will not be eligible to apply.
To apply you will need to have ready:
- One full month’s bank statements evidencing all household income, housing costs, and child benefit payments or child benefit statements. This may mean you need to provide multiple accounts including your partner’s bank statement.
- Evidence that you are currently working in grocery and have continuously worked in the grocery sector for at least the last 12 months.
Your evidence can be in the form of:
- The last 12 months payslips
- A letter /email from your employer on letterhead or from a company email address confirming your term of employment
- Another official document such as a P60 for the last two years of employment.
The School Essentials Grant is a limited fund. The grant will close on the 30th September or when the fund has been used, whichever comes first.
Can I benefit from a Government School Uniform Grant?
It is your local council that offers school uniform grants, therefore you must apply via them.
The eligibility criteria for the school uniform grant varies from council to council and the form you receive it in may be in cash (paid into your bank account) or vouchers for shops.
The clothing grant is to assist with the purchasing of school uniform, P.E kit and shoes.
Eligible criteria varies, so it's best to check with your local council if you think you may be entitled to assistance.
If you claim any of below, then the chances of you receiving the grant is higher...
- Income Support
- Income-based Job Seeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment Support Allowance
- Child Tax Credit and where your income is less than £16,105
- Working Tax Credit, and where your income is less than £16,105 (this only applies to the clothing grant
- Support provided under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Universal Credit where the monthly earned income does not exceed £610
- Pupils who receive any of these benefits in their own right may also claim free school meals.
If your local council is unable to assist you with the cost of buying school uniform, then it's worth contacting the school your child will attend. They may have their own uniform fund, or pre-owned uniform that they can give your child.
When is the Marks & Spencer School Uniform Sale?
There's currently 25% off selected School Uniform at M&S*. Prices start from just 89p!
Main mage: Debenhams. Additional images: Asda, Tu Clothing, Marks and Spencer, Aldi, Very, Next, Morrisons.
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